Beverage Capsule And Process And System For Making Same

ABSTRACT

A beverage capsule is provided for use in a beverage preparing machine. A system and process for making the beverage capsule is also provided. The beverage capsule includes a body defining an interior space having an opening. A filter is disposed in the body to define an ingredients chamber and an extraction chamber. The filter has an air flow permeability of at least 400 L/s·m2. Ingredients are disposed in the ingredients chamber and a cover is dispensed over the opening to seal the interior space. The filter includes a vent region between the top surface of the ingredients and the bottom surface of cover for venting gas through said filter between said ingredients chamber and said extraction chamber. An alternate embodiment includes air flow channels defined in a side wall of body.

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/077,356, filed on Nov. 12, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/725,324, filed on Nov. 12, 2012.

FIELD

This specification relates to beverage capsules used in beveragepreparing machines and in particular to multi-chamber beverage capsulesand a process and system for making same.

BACKGROUND

The following background discussion is not an admission that anythingdiscussed below is citable as prior art or common general knowledge. Thedocuments listed below are incorporated herein in their entirety by thisreference to them.

Single serve beverage capsules for use in beverage preparing machinesare becoming increasingly popular. Such beverage capsules come in avariety of formats for producing beverages such as espresso coffee, dripcoffee, tea or hot chocolate.

Single chamber beverage capsules, such as espresso capsules, have asingle chamber defined by a plastic or aluminum body having a foil coverat one end. The chamber is densely packed with ingredients, such asground coffee, for producing beverages in a high pressure beveragepreparing machine. Hot water is injected under pressure by the beveragepreparing machine into the single chamber containing the ingredients. Asthe pressure within the chamber increases the foil cover is forcedagainst raised projections in the capsule holder to the point that theprojections penetrate the cover so that the beverage flows through thecover into the user's cup.

One example of a single chamber beverage capsule is the Nespresso GrandsCrus™ capsule. This capsule has an aluminum body with a foil cover. Thefoil cover is pierced by square protrusions in the capsule holder whenhot water is injected under pressure by the beverage preparing machineinto the capsule.

Multi chamber beverage capsules, such as drip coffee capsules, have afirst chamber defined by a filter (typically a paper filter) that isloosely packed with ingredients (such as ground coffee) and a secondchamber downstream of the first chamber that defines an empty space forreceiving a prepared beverage that flows through the filter prior todispensing into a cup.

One example of a multi chamber beverage capsule is the Keurig K-Cup™capsule. This capsule includes a paper filter having a side wall that issealed to an inside peripheral edge of the capsule. The side wall of thefilter is pleated or fluted to define channels extending between the topand bottom of the filter. The channels are intended to improve fluidflow down the side wall of the chamber.

One advantage of single serve beverage capsules is that each servingcontains a fresh supply of ingredients. The freshness of the ingredientsis preserved through a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) process wherethe air within the capsule is modified such as by replacing the air withan inert gas prior to sealing.

A problem with multi chamber beverage capsules is that a greater volumeof air is contained within the capsule (in the second chamber and withinthe bed of loosely packed ingredients) which must be evacuated andreplaced with an inert gas as part of the MAP process. The location andtype of filter, such as the pleated paper filter that is secured to theside wall of the Keurig K-cup™ capsule, can restrict the rate at whichair within the second chamber of the capsules may be evacuated andreplaced with an inert gas. This significantly impacts the rate ofproduction for conventional dual chamber capsules such as the KeurigK-cup™ capsules.

To address this problem, conventional dual chamber capsules, such as theKeurig K-cup™ capsule, are manufactured within a modified atmosphereenvironment. Specifically, the filling and sealing operations areconducted within an operation chamber in which the air has been replacedwith nitrogen.

These results in manufacturing inefficiencies due to the large volumesof nitrogen required to fill the large space that houses the filling andsealing machinery. Furthermore, the operation requires a longer thandesired lead time prior to each manufacturing cycle to replace the airwithin the operation chamber with nitrogen.

Another problem with conventional multi chamber capsules, such as theKeurig K-cup™ capsule, is that the brewing cycle is prolonged due todelayed balancing of the pressure differential between the upper andlower chambers during use of the beverage capsule in a beveragepreparing machine.

There is a need for improvements to the beverage capsule and the processand system for making such beverage capsules to address problems such asnoted above.

SUMMARY

In one aspect the invention provides a beverage capsule for use in abeverage preparing machine, the beverage capsule comprising:

-   a body defining an interior space;-   a filter disposed in said body to define an ingredients chamber and    an extraction chamber, said filter having an air flow permeability    of at least 400 L/s·m2;-   ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing a    desired consumable product; and-   a cover disposed over an opening to said body for sealing the    interior space.

In another aspect the invention provides a beverage capsule for use in abeverage preparing machine, the beverage capsule comprising:

-   a body having a side wall extending from an end wall to an opening    to define an interior space;-   a plurality of air flow channels defined in an interior surface of    said side wall of said body, said air flow channels extending at    least partway between said opening and said end wall of said body;-   a filter disposed in said body to define an ingredients chamber and    an extraction chamber;-   ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing a    desired consumable product; and-   a cover disposed over said opening for sealing said interior space.

In another aspect the invention provides a process for making a beveragecapsule for use in a beverage preparing machine, the process comprisingthe steps of:

-   sealing a filter to a body for the beverage capsule to define an    ingredients chamber and an extraction chamber, said filter having an    air flow permeability of at least 400 L/s·m2; said body having a    side wall extending from an end wall to an opening to define an    interior space;-   depositing a desired volume of desired ingredients into said    ingredients chamber;-   replacing a substantial volume of air within said interior space    with an inert gas; and-   sealing a cover to said body to cover said opening.

In another aspect the invention provides a system for making a beveragecapsule for use in a beverage preparing machine, the system comprising:

-   a filter sealing station for sealing a filter to a body for the    beverage capsule to define an ingredients chamber and an extraction    chamber, said filter having an air flow permeability of at least 400    L/s·m2, said body having a side wall extending from an end wall to    an opening to define an interior space, said opening being    surrounded by a flange;-   a dosing station for depositing a desired volume of desired    ingredients into said ingredients chamber;-   a cover pre-sealing station for sealing a cover to said flange while    maintaining at least one opening; and-   a MAP station for replacing a substantial volume of air within said    body with an inert gas and sealing said at least one airflow opening    with said cover.

In another aspect, the invention provides a capsule for use in a machinefor preparing consumable products from capsules, the capsule comprising:

-   a body defining an interior space;-   a filter disposed in said body to define an ingredients chamber and    an extraction chamber, said filter having an air flow permeability    of at least 400 L/s·m2;-   ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing a    consumable product;-   a cover disposed over an opening to said body for sealing said    interior space; and-   wherein a vent region is defined in said filter between a top    surface of said ingredients and a bottom surface of said cover, said    vent region being adapted for venting gas through said filter    between said ingredients chamber and said extraction chamber.

Other aspects and features of the teachings disclosed herein will becomeapparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of thefollowing description of the specific examples of the specification.

DRAWINGS

The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples ofarticles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification and arenot intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. Forsimplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate,reference numerals may be repeated among the drawings to indicatecorresponding or analogous elements.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a beverage capsule in accordance with thepresent invention, the beverage capsule being inserted into a brewchamber for a beverage preparing machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the beverage capsule shown inFIG. 1 as viewed within circle 2;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a Keurig K-cup™ beverage capsule(Prior Art) corresponding to the view of the beverage capsule shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of beverage capsule inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the beverage capsule shown in FIG. 4 asviewed along lines 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a system and process for makingbeverage capsules in accordance with the present invention

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a MAP station containingbeverage capsules for modified atmosphere packaging in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a beverage capsule with a substantially sealedcover having access openings in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the lower chamber of the MAP station showing thevacuum portals;

FIG. 10 is a graph depicting the modified atmospheric packaging processin accordance with the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Various apparatuses or methods will be described below to provideexamples of the claimed invention. The claimed invention is not limitedto apparatuses or methods having all of the features of any oneapparatus or method described below or to features common to multiple orall of the apparatuses described below. The claimed invention may residein a combination or sub-combination of the apparatus elements or methodsteps described below. It is possible that an apparatus or methoddescribed below is not an example of the claimed invention. Theapplicant(s), inventor(s) and/or owner(s) reserve all rights in anyinvention disclosed in an apparatus or method described below that isnot claimed in this document and do not abandon, disclaim or dedicate tothe public any such invention by its disclosure in this document.

A beverage capsule in accordance with the present invention is showngenerally at 10 in the Figures. The term “beverage capsule” is intendedto mean a capsule for preparing beverages or other consumable productsfrom desired ingredients as described below.

Beverage capsule 10 includes a body 12, filter 14, ingredients 16 andcover 18. Body 12 and cover 18 are each formed of multilayered materialsthat include one or more barrier layers providing barriers against oneor more environmental factors such as light, oxygen, and moisture.

Body 12 includes a side wall 20 and an end wall 22 together defining anenclosed interior space 24. Interior space 24 preferably has a volume inthe range of 30 cc to 100 cc for preparing a single serving of beverageand more preferably a volume in the range of 40 cc to 80 cc.

An opening 26 is defined at one end of body 12. A flange 28 extendsaround the perimeter of opening 26. End wall 22 includes at least oneextraction region 32 adapted for being pierced by at least oneextraction needle 34 of a beverage preparing machine 36 for dispensingbeverage from the capsule 10 to a user's cup.

Filter 14 is adapted to be disposed within body 12 to define at leastone ingredients chamber 46 in an upper region of the interior space 24for receiving one or more ingredients 16 and at least one extractionchamber 48 exterior to the ingredients chamber 46 in the interior space24 for receiving beverage from the at least one ingredients chamber 46prior to extraction using the extraction needle 34.

Ingredients 16 may be coffee grounds, tea leaves, chocolate powder, milkpowder, instant coffee or any other ingredients or combinations ofingredients that may be used to prepare a beverage or other consumableproduct. Ingredients requiring filtration (such as coffee grounds or tealeaves) would be deposited within ingredients chamber 46. Ingredientsthat do not require filtration may be deposited within extractionchamber 48.

Filter 14 includes a gasket portion 50 and a side wall 52 that extendsdownwardly from gasket portion 50 to a filter bottom 54. Gasket portion50 is secured to a top surface 55 of flange 28 preferably by way of aheat seal. Cover 18 is subsequently secured to gasket portion 50 offilter 14 and the top surface 55 of flange 28 of body preferably by wayof a heat seal. More details of filter 14 and the manner for securingfilter 14 and cover 18 to flange 28 of body 12 are provided inco-pending patent application Ser. No. 13/600,582 which is incorporatedin its entirety herein by reference. Alternatively, filter 14 may forexample be secured to the interior surface of side wall 20 of body 12and cover 18 may be secured to the top surface 55 of flange 28 usingconventional attachment methods.

Referring to the enlarged view of beverage capsule 10 in FIG. 2,ingredients 16 are disposed in ingredients chamber 46 with the topsurface T of ingredients 16 being spaced a distance D from the bottomsurface B of cover 18. A headspace cavity 56 having a volume of between3 cc to 18 cc and preferably between 5 cc to 10 cc is defined betweentop surface T of ingredients 16 and bottom surface B of cover 18. Theratio of the volume of headspace cavity 56 to overall volume of interiorspace 24 preferably is in the range of 5% to 35% and more preferably 10%to 20%.

A vent region 60 is defined by the portion of side wall 52 of filter 14that is available for venting (and thus not sealed to body 12) betweentop surface T of ingredients 16 and bottom surface B of cover 18. Ventregion 60 provides a primary region for the venting of gas (such as airand inert gas) through filter 14 between ingredients chamber 46 andextraction chamber 48. Such venting occurs during the MAP process aswell as during use of beverage capsule 10 in a beverage preparingmachine as pressure differentials between the ingredients chamber 46 andextraction chamber 48 are changing. For a beverage capsule 10 having aninterior space 24 adapted for providing a single serving of beverage,vent region 60 preferably has a surface area in the range of 3 to 20 cm²and more preferably between 6 to 15 cm².

Filter 14, and in particular vent region 60 of filter 14, preferably hasan air permeability of at least 400 L/s·m2, more preferably at least1000 L/s·m2 and even more preferably at least 1800 L/s·m2 (allmeasurements based on ASTM Standard D737-96 “Standard Test Method forAir Permeability of Textile Fabrics”). By comparison, the pleated paperfilter for the Keurig K-cup beverage capsule having a basis weight of 40grams per square meter (gsm) has an air permeability of approximately250 L/s·m2.

Preferably, filter 14 is formed of a non-woven fabric filtrationmaterial such as polyester, polyethylene or nylon non-woven fabric. Thebasis weight for filter 14 is in the range of 40 to 150 gsm and morepreferably between 80 to 120 gsm.

Referring to FIG. 3 showing a corresponding enlarged view of a KeurigK-cup™ capsule, it can be seen that the paper filter is adhered to theinterior side wall of the capsule with the result that vent region 60 isdisposed further down from cover 18 than for the beverage capsule inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As a result, thedistance D between the top surface T of ingredients 16 and bottomsurface B of cover 18 for the beverage capsule in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention may be smaller than distance D′ forthe Keurig K-Cup™ capsule. This in turn allows for the ingredients to befilled to a higher level for the beverage capsule 10 in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention and thus a greater volume ofingredients to be disposed in the same size beverage capsule 10 ifdesired. Preferably distance D can be as small as 5 mm and morepreferably as small as 2 mm.

Preferably, filter 14 is formed of a moldable non-woven filtrationmaterial that includes a plurality of multi-component fibers that arebound or interlocked by non-woven manufacturing techniques (such as spunbond techniques) to form a web having channels 62 extending from oneside of filter 14 to the other. The desired diameter for channels 62after forming is between 20 and 100 μm, more preferably between 40 to 80μm. More details of a preferred filtration material for filter 14 areprovided in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 14/074,024 which isincorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

Filter 14 may alternatively be formed of a polymer sheet, such aspolyester or Nylon, which may be perforated or otherwise modified todefine channels 62.

Filter 14 may alternatively be formed from an ultra high molecularweight polyethylene (UHWMPE) which is also a filter material due to thecavities/pores formed during polymerization.

In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, body 12 may haveair flow channels 64 and ribs 66 defined in the interior surface ofsidewall 20 extending at least partway between opening 16 and end wall22. Preferably, air flow channels 64 are located at least along an upperportion of sidewall 20 adjacent to vent region 60 of filter 14.

Air flow channels 64 are adapted to provide improved air flow within thebeverage capsule 10 along sidewall 20 of body 12 between ingredientschamber 46 and extraction chamber 48 particularly at vent area 60. Airflow channels 64 are adapted to improve air flow sufficiently along thesidewall 20, particularly adjacent vent region 60, to allow a filter 14having a lower level of air permeability (including conventional paperfilters) to be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 6, a schematic view of a system 100 and process formaking beverage capsules 10 in accordance with the present invention isshown.

System 100 comprises at least one transfer belt 102 having a pluralityof capsule holders 103 adapted to cyclically and sequentially transfercapsules 10 from a working station to a following station as describedfurther below. While only a single capsule holder 103 is shown at eachstation for system 100 it will be understood that transfer belt 102 hasmultiple capsule holders 103 disposed at each station in order thatmanufacturing operations may be performed simultaneously on multiplecapsules at each station.

System 100 includes a body forming station 104 for engaging a sheet ofmoldable multilayered body material 106 with a heated mandrel 108 toform body 12. Capsule holder 103 with body 12 formed in body material106 is then transferred to a filter sealing station 110. A sheet ofmoldable nonwoven filter material 112 is sealed to body material 106 atfilter sealing station 110 such that filter material 112 covers opening26 of body 12.

Capsule holder 103 with filter material 112 sealed to body material 106is then transferred to a filter forming station 116 where a heatedmandrel 118 engages the portion of filter material 112 that extends overopening 26 of body 12 to form a filter 14 into a desired shape to definean ingredients chamber 46 within thermoformed body 12.

Capsule holder 103 with filter material 112 sealed to body material 106and filter 14 formed in body 12 is then transferred to a cutting station120 where a die 122 cuts each individual body 12 with filter 14 frombody material 106. Die 122 is adapted to cut body material 106 to defineflange 28 around opening of body 12 with a gasket portion 50 of filter14 sealed to the top surface of flange 28.

Capsule holder 103 with separated body 12 with filter 14 is thentransferred to a dosing station 124 having an ingredients supplier 126for supplying a desired amount of ingredients 16 into ingredientschamber 46. A scale 128 weighs beverage capsule 10 to ensure that thedesired amount of ingredients 16 have been dosed into ingredientschamber 46.

Capsule holder 103 then transfers body 12 with filter 14 and ingredients16 to cleaning station 130 where a vacuum conduit 132 cleans the exposedsurface of gasket portion 50 of filter 14 in preparation for sealingwith cover 18.

Capsule holder 103 then transfers body 12 with filter 14 and ingredients16 to a cover pre-sealing station 134 for receiving a supply of a covermaterial 136 and pre-sealing a portion of cover 18 to gasket portion 50of filter 14 and to flange 28 of body 12. Cover pre-sealing station 134leaves openings 188 along edge of cover 18 for allowing air to beevacuated and inert gas to be flushed into capsule during the MAPprocess as described in more detail below.

Partially sealed beverage capsules 10 are then transferred from capsuleholders 103 in transfer plate 102 to corresponding capsule holders 176disposed within a transfer plate 178 using a pick-and-place device (notshown) or other suitable mechanism. Capsule holders 176 and transferplate 178 are specially adapted for use during the MAP process asdescribed further below.

Transfer plate 178 with partially sealed beverage capsules 10 disposedin capsule holders 176 is then moved to a MAP station 170 for executionof the MAP process as described below. Once the MAP process is complete,openings 188 in cover 18 are sealed with sealer 192 and the finishedbeverage capsule 10 is transferred using a pick-and-place device (notshown) or other suitable mechanism to a collection station 138 forsubsequent packaging into boxes (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 7, MAP station 170 that is adapted for replacing air172 within beverage capsule 10 with a desired inert gas 174 is shown.MAP station 170 is sized and configured to accommodate multiple beveragecapsules 10 disposed in multiple capsule holders 176 supported along arow by the transfer plate 178. The transfer plate 178 is adapted to betransferred to and from MAP station 170 as part of the overallmanufacturing process as described above.

MAP station 170 comprises an upper chamber 180 and a lower chamber 182that each move between an open position (not shown), where upper chamber180 and lower chamber 182 are spaced a sufficient distance apart inorder that transfer plate 178 containing beverage capsules 10 may betransferred to or from MAP station 170, and a closed position, whereupper chamber 180 and lower chamber 182 form an airtight seal againsttransfer plate 178 in order that the MAP process may be conducted.

Upper chamber 180 includes a first inert gas inlet 184 a connected to asource (not shown) of a desired inert gas 174, such as nitrogen orcarbon dioxide, for supplying inert gas 174 under pressure to upperchamber 180. Lower chamber 182 includes a second inert gas inlet 184 bconnected to a source (not shown) of a desired inert gas 174, such asnitrogen or carbon dioxide, for supplying inert gas 174 under pressureto lower chamber 182.

Lower chamber 182 further includes an outlet 186 connected to a vacuumgenerator (not shown) for creating a vacuum within MAP station 170 whenit is in its closed position for removing air from upper and lowerchambers 180 and 182 as well as interior space 24 of beverage capsules10 contained within MAP station 170.

Referring to FIG. 8, beverage capsule 10 has a portion of cover 18 thatis sealed to gasket portion 50 of filter and flange 28 of body 12 and atleast one portion of cover 18 that is left unsealed to provide at leastone opening 188 for air 172 to be drawn out of beverage capsule andinert gas 174 to be supplied into beverage capsule 10. Preferably atleast two openings 188 are provided at cover 18 with each opening 188occupying at least 10% and preferably at least 20% of the circumferenceof flange to provide sufficient space for air 172 or inert gas 174 toflow efficiently through openings 188.

Referring back to FIG. 7, port 187 extends through transfer plate 178 topermit air 172 and inert gas 174 to flow between upper chamber 180 andlower chamber 182 during the performance of the MAP process. Capsules 10are preferably disposed in capsule holders 176 with openings 188 beinglocated on the side of transfer plate that is opposite to the locationof port 187 in order that the flow of air 172 urges the unsealed portionof cover 18 away from flange to expose openings 188.

As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of openings 190 are defined in the baseof capsule holder 176 to allow the vacuum created in lower chamber 182to also draw air from within capsule holder 176 as well as from withinbeverage capsule 10. Thus air 172 is drawn from beverage capsule 10through openings 188 in cover 18 into lower chamber 182 through port 18and out to vacuum generator through outlet 186.

MAP station 170 further includes a heat sealer 192 that is adapted to bemoved into engagement with the edge portion of cover 18 over flange 28once the MAP process is complete to close openings 188 and fully sealcover 18 to gasket portion 50 of filter 14 and flange 28 of body 12.

Referring to FIG. 10, it may be seen that air 172 is initially withdrawnfrom beverage capsule 10 prior to initiating the supply of inert gas 74.It may be seen that the supply of inert gas 174 is initiated after apredetermined period for removal of air within MAP station 170 includingfrom within beverage capsule 10. It may also be seen that the supply ofinert gas 174 is started before the air removal finished in order tominimize the gas turbulence in the evacuation process

Once sufficient air 172 is removed from beverage capsule 10 and replacedwith inert gas 174, the openings 188 in cover 18 are sealed with sealer192 to fully seal the interior space 24 of beverage capsule 10. It isdesirable that sufficient air 172 is removed from beverage capsule 10 toprovide an oxygen level of less than 2% and more preferably less than1%.

Referring to Table 1 below, the preferred parameters for the MAP processand beverage capsule 10 in accordance with the present invention areprovided. Advantageously, the MAP process may be conducted moreefficiently and at a greater rate of production than for conventionalbeverage capsules such as Keurig K-cup™ beverage capsules.

TABLE 1 MAP Station Parameters Preferred More preferred FunctionParameters range range Vacuum Pressure 5-100 KPa 10-80 KPa Time 0.5-4sec 1-3 sec Inert gas Pressure 20-300 KPa 50-150 KPa supply Time0.02-1.5 sec 0.1-1 sec Sealing Pressure 100-800 KPa 300-600 Kpa Time0.2-2 sec 0.5-1.2 sec Temp 120-250° C. 150-200° C.

While the above description provides examples of one or more processesor apparatuses, it will be appreciated that other processes orapparatuses may be within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I/We claim:
 1. A beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparingmachine, the beverage capsule comprising: a body having a side wallextending from an end wall to an opening to define an interior spacehaving a volume in the range of 30 cc to 100 cc, said opening beingsurrounded by a flange; a filter disposed in said body to define aningredients chamber and an extraction chamber, said filter having an airflow permeability of at least 400 L/s·m2; ingredients disposed in saidingredients chamber for preparing a consumable product; a cover disposedover said opening to said body for sealing said interior space; and avent region defined in said filter around said ingredients chamberbetween a top surface of said ingredients disposed in said ingredientschamber and a bottom surface of said cover, wherein said top surface ofsaid ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber is spaced between25 mm from said bottom surface of said cover when said capsule isdisposed on said end wall, said vent region being constructed andarranged for venting gas through said filter between said ingredientschamber and said extraction chamber.
 2. A beverage capsule as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said filter has a basis weight in the range of 40 to150 gsm.
 3. A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ventregion has a surface area no less than 3 cm2.
 4. A beverage capsule asclaimed in claim 3, wherein said vent region is disposed between 0-5 mmbelow said bottom surface of cover.
 5. A beverage capsule as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a headspace cavity having a volume is defined betweensaid top surface of said ingredients in said ingredients chamber and abottom surface of said cover, and wherein the ratio of said volume ofsaid headspace cavity to the volume of said interior space is in therange of 5% to 35%.
 6. A process for making a beverage capsule for usein a beverage preparing machine, the process comprising the steps of:sealing a filter to a body for the beverage capsule to define aningredients chamber and an extraction chamber, said filter having an airflow permeability of at least 400 L/s·m2, said body having a side wallextending from an end wall to an opening to define an interior spacehaving a volume in the range of 30 cc to 100 cc, said opening beingsurrounded by a flange, wherein a vent region is defined in said filteraround said ingredients chamber between a top surface of desiredingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber and a bottom surface ofa cover for covering said opening, said vent region being constructedand arranged for venting gas through said filter between saidingredients chamber and said extraction chamber; depositing a desiredvolume of desired ingredients into said ingredients chamber, whereinsaid top surface of said ingredients disposed in said ingredientschamber is spaced between 2-5 mm from said bottom surface of said coverwhen said capsule is disposed on said end wall; replacing a substantialvolume of air within said interior space with an inert gas; and sealinga cover to said body to cover said opening.
 7. A process as claimed inclaim 6, wherein said vent region has a surface area of no less than 3cm2.
 8. A process as claimed in claim 7, wherein said vent region isdisposed between 0-5 mm below said bottom surface of cover.
 9. A processas claimed in claim 6, wherein the spacing between a top surface of saidingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber and a bottom surface ofsaid cover is between 2-5 mm.
 10. A capsule for use in a machine forpreparing consumable products from capsules, the capsule comprising: abody having a side wall extending from an end wall to an opening todefine an interior space having a volume in the range of 30 cc to 100cc, said opening being surrounded by a flange; a filter disposed in saidbody to define an ingredients chamber and an extraction chamber, saidfilter having an air flow permeability of at least 400 L/s·m2;ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing aconsumable product; a cover disposed over an opening to said body forsealing said interior space; a vent region defined in said filterbetween a top surface of said ingredients and a bottom surface of saidcover, said vent region being adapted for venting gas through saidfilter between said ingredients chamber and said extraction chamber; anda headspace cavity having a volume is defined between said top surfaceof said ingredients in said ingredients chamber and a bottom surface ofsaid cover, wherein the ratio of said volume of said headspace cavity tothe volume of said interior space is in the range of 5% to 35%.
 11. Acapsule as claimed in claim 10, wherein said vent region has a surfacearea of no less than 3 cm2.
 12. A beverage capsule as claimed in claim10, wherein said vent region is disposed between 0-5 mm below saidbottom surface of said cover.
 13. A beverage capsule as claimed in claim10, wherein the spacing between a top surface of said ingredientsdisposed in said ingredients chamber and a bottom surface of said coveris between 2-5 mm when said capsule is disposed on said end wall.